Panoramic camera.



PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905.

D. A. REAVILL. PANORAMIG CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES Patented January 17, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID A. REAVILL, OF ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING, ASSIGNOR TO THE ROCHESTERPANORAMIC CAMERA COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WVYOMING.

PANORAMIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,381, dated January17, 1905.

Application filed May 25, 1904. Serial No. 209,677.

To (ti/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. REAvILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rock Springs, in the county of Sweetwater and State of\Vyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PanoramicCameras, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to panoramic cameras that is to say, it belongs tothe class of photographic cameras which are revoluble upon a tripod orother support and are swung around by suitable mechanism in a horizontalcircle or portion of a circle, thus bringing all objects at every pointof the compass within range of the lens, enabling such objects to bephotographically taken upon a sensitive iilm properly exposed and movedwithin the camera-box.

The object of my invention is to produce a camera of character statedhaving devices of special construction and arrangement by which thecamera-box is revolved with greater or less speed, as desired, and thefilm given an appropriately corresponding movement.

I accomplish the object sought by fashioning and associating cooperatingparts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ofwhicl Figure l is aside View, partly in vertical section, of the bottom of the camera-box,the top of the tripod, the means for revolving the turn-table, and thespeed-regulating devices. Fig. 2 represents a top view of the invention,the rear portion of the camera-box being in horizontal section, therebyexhibiting the tops of the film-roll and feed-roll and the walls oftheir respective chambers and showing the exposure-slot which the filmpasses. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the rear partof the camera-box, showing the feed-roll, the manner in which it isremovably and rotatively mounted, and one method of looking it againstrotation or displacement. In this ligure is also represented the spooland the manner of attaching it at the lower end of the feedroll axis.Fig. 4 is a top view of the camerabox and shows also portions of the topof the tripod and the turn-table of the weight-motor, which are notcovered by the box. For purposes of illustration in this view theposition of the camera-box with respect to the turntable has beenchanged from that which it occupies in Fig. I in order that the cord andpulley of the weight-motor and the cord from the feed-roll spool mayboth be illustrated.

Like numbers refer to like parts throughout.

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawings, numeral 1 designates the top of atripod of any chosen size. In my invention it is a circular diskordinarily provided with a depending apron or flange 2, which will beagain mentioned. Immediately above top 1, concentrically placed, is aturn-table 8, and the balls 4.- or other antifriction devices areinterposed between the top and turn-table. Passing movabl y through thetopl and engaging a central orifice in the turn-table is the main arborr axis 5. At the upper end the arbor is tappedfor thumbscrew 6, whichpasses through slot 7 in the hinged front wall 8 of camera-box 9,(seealso Fig. 2,) thereby securing the box removably and adjustably upon theturn-table. By means of these ad justing devices the camera may beplaced in the position shown and described for Fig. 4 or in otherpositions with relation to its supports. The lower end of arbor isjournaled in a plate 10, suspended from the top of the tripod by thestuds 11. Below the plate 10 the journal of arbor 5 is provided with thecollar 12 and set-screw 13. Upon arbor 5 is mounted the gear-wheel 14,that meshes with pinion 15 on vertical shaft 16, suitablyjournaled inplate 10 and the tripodtop. On shaft 16 is a gear-wheel 17, that mesheswith the pinion 18 on vertical shaft 19, pivotally supported by plate 10and top 1. Shaft 19 passes downwardly through plate 10 and carries atits lower end the hub 20, in which fan-blades 21 are adjustably securedby screws 22, as drawn, or in like manner. Shaft 19 also carries thebrake wheel 23, against which the brake 24: is normally pressed by thecoil-spring 25, encircling the stud 11. A set-screw 26 relieves thepressure of the brake when it is desired that the fan shall revolve.

The motor mechanism consists of the variable weight 27 below thetripodtop, attached to cord or other flexible connection 28, passingupwardly through a clamping device, which may consist of the bored block29, through which the cord passes, and the thumbserew 30, arranged topress upon and hold the cord, as shown. Cord 28 continues through asuitable orifice in the tripod-top, thence over a pulley 31, (see alsoFig. 4,) and around the turn-table, which usually possesses a groove 32to receive it and in which one end is secured by a screw or pin 33 or inlike manner. The cord 28 and weight 27 are removable. Here it may bestated that I do not confine myself to the weight-motor shown anddescribed or to any form of weight-motor. In this class of camerasspring-motors are common, and it would require no change in theconstruction herein set forth to apply a springmotor to the arbor 5.Indeed in practice I occasionally provide a spring-motor on an extraarbor, which may be substituted for arbor 5, shown, enabling eithermotor means to be employed at will.

Considering Fig. 2, number 34: marks the bellows of any form and extent,and in this figurealso appears the longitudinal slot 7 and thumb-screw6, by which the camera-box may be adjusted circularly or in thedirection of its length, both in a horizontal plane, the latteradjustment permitting the camera-box to be accurately balanced upon theturn-table in order that its movement may proceed without tremor or thenecessity for excessive power to revolve it.

In Fig. 2 is shown the film-roll 35, having the vertical axis 36, and aspring 37 normally presses against the roll or axis in order that thefilm shall not be unrolled unless drawn upon by the motor devices. Thefilm-roll is inclosed in its own dark chamber, provided by the inclosingwalls 38, making a rectangular compartment in one corner of the rear ofthe camera-box. Similarly, the feed-roll 39, having the axis 40, isprovided with its own dark chamber by the erection of walls 41. Betweenthe parallel portions of walls 38 and 4:1 is the exposure-slot ofdesired width. and at the rear those walls have divergent parts 4L2 and4:3, supplied with cylindrical posts as along their edges to guide thefilm 45, which is shown passing across the divergent opening between thewalls against the back of the camera-box. The divergent opening effectsthe vignetting or blending of the images in proper relation upon thefilm and is found to be an advantageous form for the ex posure-slot nearthe film. I do not confine myself to any particular means for guidingthe film and may wrap posts 44: at one or both edges with strips of softdark material 4:6, such as is shown at the edge of the divergent wall42, to avoid scratching the film and to exclude light.

In Fig. 2 number 47 designates a springpin, normally retracted. asshown, but which may be pressed inwardly to puncture the film at anydesired point to mark the limit of exby plate 50 at the top, and at oneside is placed the thumb-screw 5 1 that passes through the top of thebox and enters one of a number of holes 52 in plate 53 on the top of thefeed-roll. \Vhen the thumb-screw engages a hole, the roll is effectivelylocked against ro-' tation, and the removable spool 51L may be screwedon or off the lower end of axis 40 without turning the roll anddisturbing the film. As illustrated, the threaded end of the spoolprojects within the box. It is surrounded by the thimble 56, removablyattached to the bottom of the box by screws 57. Axis 40 passes throughthe top of the thimble, and a collar 58 on the axis rests upon the topof the thimble within the box and supports the weight of the roll andalso excludes the light. Should it be desired to remove the feed-roll,the spool is taken off and the thimble removed. This allows the roll todrop down upon the bottom of the box, freeing the upper end of its axisfrom plate 50 and permitting it to be withdrawn through any door in theback of the box. (Not shown and not a part of my invention.) A cord 59or other flexible connection is attached to and wound about the spooland also attached to flange 2 of the tripod-top by screw or pin 60. (Seealso Fig. 4C.)

In the operation if the camera-box be swung around by the motor the cord59 will be uucoiled from the spool and wrapped about the flange 2. Atthe same time the spool, and therefore the feed-roll, will be rotated,transferring the film past the exposure-slot from film-roll to feed-rollin the usual way. As the length of film exposed must be in cameras ofthis sort during one revolution equal to the circumference of a circlehaving the focal distance of the lens as a radius, it is clear that ifthe lens be changed another spool having proper diametric ratio to thetop 2 must be used. It is customary to-provide a number of spools, andthey may be given a slight taper in order that the feed-roll will bemoved more rapidly as the first layer of film is wound upon it and lessrapidly as superimposed layers of film render it larger, thereby movingthe film itself at approximately constant speed.

In Fig. 1 will be noted the screw 61, pass ing upwardly through thetripod-top and engaging one of a series of holes 62 in the under surfaceof the turn-table. The ollice of the screw is to prevent the turn-tablefrom rotating when the tripod is carried from place to place.

It is frequently desirable that the lens should sweep a certain part ofthe circle and go no further. I provide, therefore, the camera-box stop63, which possesses an overhanging lip 6 formed to engage the top edgeof flange 2, and the stop also has an L-bolt and thumb-screw 66, asillustrated, for clamping the stop at any one of the divisions markedupon the tripod-top and flange and shown in Fig. 4. Ordinarily I placean inelastic leather bufler 67 upon the raised part of stop 63 to bringthe camera to rest without rebounding.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of its operation, whatI claim is 1. In a panoramic camera, the combination with a circulartripod-top, of a revoluble camera-box, a motor borne by the said top andarranged to revolve the camera-box, a feed roll having an axis and aspool attached to the axis, and a flexible connection wound upon saidspool and attached to said circular top whereby the revolution of thecamera-box rotates the feed-roll and winds said connection about saidcircular top.

2. In a panoramic camera, the combination with atripod having a circulartop, of a revoluble camera-box, removable motor mechanism borne by thetripod for revolving the camera-box, a feed-roll having an axis and aspool attached to the axis, a flexible connection wound upon said spooland attached to said tripod-top whereby the revolution of the camera-boxrotates the feed-roll andv winds said flexible connection about saidtripod-top.

3. In a panoramic camera, the combination with a circular tripod-top, ofa turn-table, a motor borne by the said top and arranged to revolve thesaid turn-table, a camera-box attached to the turn-table, a feed-rollhaving an axis and a spool attached to the axis, and a flexibleconnection wound upon said spool and attached to the said circular topwhereby the revolution of said turn-table and camera-box rotates thefeed-roll and winds said connection about said circular top.

4. In a panoramic camera, the combination with a circular tripod-top, ofa turn-table, a motor borne by the said top and arranged to revolve thesaid turn-table, a camera-box, clamping devices for attaching said boxremovably and adjustably to the turntable, a feed-roll having an axisand a spool attached to the axis, and a flexible connection wound uponsaid spool and attached to the said circular top whereby the revolutionof said turntable and camera-box rotates the feed-roll and winds saidconnection about said circular top.

5. In a panoramic camera, the combination with a circular tripod-top, ofa circular turntable, a weight-motor arranged to act directly upon theturn-table, a camera-box attached to the turn-table, a feed-roll havingan axis and a spool attached to the axis, and a flexible connectionnormally wound upon the spool and attached to the said tripod-topwhereby the rotation of the camera rotates the feed-roll and winds theconnection upon the said tripod-top.

6. In a panoramic camera, the combination with a circular tripod-top, ofa circular turntable, a weight-motor arranged to operate the turn-table,speed-regulating devices adapted to control the said motor, a camera-boxattached to the said turn-table, a feed-roll hav ing an axis and a spoolattached to the axis, and a flexible connection normally wound upon thesaid spool and attached to said tripod-top whereby the revolution of theturn-table and camera rotates the feed-roll and winds the connectionupon the said tripod-top.

7. In a panoramic camera, the combination with a support, of a revolublecamera-box, weight-operated motor means adapted to revolve the camerabox, locking devices by which the weight actuating said motor can besecured against gravity, a feed-roll, and means whereby the revolutionof the camera-box rotates the feed-roll.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID A. REAVILL.

